Construction member for a heated floor and floor assembled therefrom

ABSTRACT

A construction member made of a material of good thermal conductivity has the shape of a board. Along one longitudinal edge a rib projects from the lower surface of the board at substantially right angles which rib serves to support the board on the ground. In the junction area between the board and the rib a channel is provided extending in longitudinal direction for receiving a heating pipe. On the upper surface of the construction member along the edge above the rib a recess is formed for receiving the rib-free edge of the adjacent member. By assembling a plurality of construction members side by side a floor above the ground is formed at a distance equal to the width of the supporting ribs, and the ribs subdivide the space between the floor and the ground into channels wherein the air is warmed up. Holes are provided in the board-shaped portion of the construction member through which the warm air escapes into the space above the floor.

. United States Patent Kahn et al.

[ Mar. 5, 1974 v [76] Inventors: Friedhelm Kahn, Muhlbachstrasse,

Ehringshausen; Hans 0. Rittich, Krotenweg 5, Stuttgart, both of Germany 22 Filed: Apr. 12, 1972 21 Appl.'No.: 243,175

30 Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 17, 1971 Germany 2118665 '52. fu.s.ci. 165/54 51 "lnt.'Cl.

ima y Em wwqh e fiu lQ w o o Attorney, Agent, or F irm-Kraft' & Wells; Gilbert L.

Wells [57] ABSTRACT A construction member made of a material of good thermal conductivity has the shape of a board. Along one longitudinal edge a rib projects from the lower surface of the board at substantially right angles which rib serves to support the board on the ground. In the junction area between the board and the rib a channel is provided extending in longitudinal direction for receiving a heating pipe. On the upper surface of the construction member along the edge above the rib a recess is formed for receiving the rib-free edge of the adjacent member. By assembling a plurality of'con- 24 3 02 struction members side by side a floor above the [58] Field-of Search 165/54, 49 ground iS formed at a distance equal to the width Of the supporting ribs, and the ribs subdivide the space [56] R f re Cit d between the floor and the ground into channels UNITED STATES PATENTS wherein the air is warmed up. Holes are provided in 2 240 951 5,194 H b 9 the board-shaped portion of the construction member 3403614 10/1968 22 4 through which the warm air escapes into the space g g above the floor. v

11 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures l V A I |'1\ Fs r1\ 5 11 I j L I, 4 If i 1 4 s 4 s 5 s CONSTRUCTION MEMBER FOR A HEATED FLOOR AND FLOOR ASSEMBLED THEREFROM BACKGROUND or THE INVENTION The invention relates to heated floors. More particularly it pertains to a construction member of which a plurality can be put together for forming a floor.

Construction members for this-purpose are already known, featuring a variety of shapes and forms. Most of these known members are intended for covering the walls orthe ceiling of a room and are, therefore, of little use if a heated floor is to be constructed.

In one particular embodiment, which consists preferably of an aluminum alloy, the member is a flat plate comprising in its interior a pipe portion. The plate is mounted in direct contact with the wall, the ceiling, or the ,floor so that the heat is conducted on the one side to the wall, ceiling,'or floor and is on the other side reflected into the room (Swiss Patent No. 313,336). If such plates ,are to be used for-constructing a heatedv floor they must be arranged directly on the ground so that the room will only be warmed up by the heat reflected from the plates, i.e., very. slowly.

Further, there is known a heated ceiling (German Patent No. 519 .96) comprising grooves in the concrete ceiling and gutter members in the grooves for conducting the heating medium. The gutter members are Welded together with iron plates covering the concrete ceiling from underneath. Plates of this type can also be installed on a concrete floor. However, here again most of the supplied heat will be transmitted to the concrete floor since the greater part of the plates will be in direct contact with the concrete. Only a fraction of the heat will be radiatedfrom the iron plates into the room. The latter will only warm up very slowly. Besides, the warm iron plates do have a very unfavourable physiological effect. I,

Further, there is known an arrangement for radiation heating (German Patent No. 962 931), comprising pipes for conducting the heating medium which are arranged in the space between a main wall and a second wall in front thereof. The heat is radiated from the pipes by way of ribs connected to the pipes through openings in the second wall. Between the pipes and the main wall a-sound-absorbing, heat-insulating material is inserted. This arrangement is extremely expensive, because it requires 'not only the above mentioned elements but also girders for maintaining the distance between the main wall and the second" wall. If such an arrangement would be installed on a floor the soundabsorbing effect would not be needed. Even if the second wall would be made of iron plates which could be welded to the ribs on the pipe, a considerable amount of heat will be reflected into the space between the heat-insulating material andthe'second wall so that a heat accumulation will occur in this space. The room on the other side of the second wall will again be heated only slowly.

Further, construction members for heated floors or ceilings have already been disclosed which have the form of a box (German Patent No. l 022 780). The boxes are cemented into the ground and they comprise a heat-insulating plate which faces the ground and an aluminum sheet attached thereon forreflecting the radiant heat. A heat-conducting plate having ribs is provided in the boxes. The I'IbS receive the heatconducting pipes and form the hollow space inside the box. A plaster carrier plate is in connection with the heat-conducting plate. These construction members are also very expensive and the whole arrangement is not very suitable for accelerating the heating of the room because no circulation of air, warmed-up by heaters or radiators, is possible.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a simple, one-piece construction member for assembling a heated floor therefrom. It is a further object to provide such a construction member which has a good heat conductivity inside the member and a good heat emission into the surrounding air. And it is another object to provide a construction member which heats-up the room not only by radiant heat but also by air convection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention the above stated objects are attained by providing a construction member in the shape of a board made from a material having a good thermal conductivity, e.g. from an aluminum alloy. Along one longitudinal edge the board is provided with a rib projecting substantially at right angles from the lower board side. This rib serves to support the board on the ground at a disance therefrom which is equal to the width of the rib. In the junction area between the board and the rib a hole is provided in longitudinal direction for receiving either a pipe with a heat exchang-. ing medium or directly themedium itself; Further, a recess is provided in longitudinal direction along the edge of the board on the upper surface on the side where the rib is arranged. This recess or groove receives the rib-.

free edge of the adjacent board when the construction members are assembled on the ground side by side. Underneath the floor the ribs form channels wherein the warm air is guided. Further ribs, not quite as wide as the supporting ribs may be provided for forming additional channels, and the boardmay have holes in the rib-free areas for allowing the warmed-up air to escape from the channels into the room. The additional ribs will also reinforce the whole floor.

The connection between one member. and the adjacent ones may be brought about in the manner which has already been described. However, the connection may also be a tongue/groove-c onnection with each member being provided with a longitudinal groove along one side of the board and with a longitudinal tongue on the other side.

For attaching a cover on the'floor, e.g. a carpet, it will be advantageous to keep the surface of the member cast-raw, i.e. unpolished. This also serves for a better heat emission. Further, when assembling a floor gaps should be left at the end of the channels between the construction members and the surrounding walls for a better air circulation. Air can then enter freely into the channels and replace the warmed-up air which has escaped through the holes. But likewise warmed-up air can flow through the gaps into the room and intensify the heating effect. Fans may be installed, both for blowing air into the gaps and also for drawing air off the channels, as may be required.

In a known manner the heating effect may be amplified by an aluminum sheet placed directly on the concrete ground underneath the floor. Since a perforated aluminum surface is not well liked as a floor, the latter will usually be covered by an air-permeable carpet. If

the carpet is to be glued to the floor the members may be provided with spots of an adhesive on the surface between the holes. For transport the spots may be covered by a protecting foil.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be more readily comprehended from the following description when taken in conjunction with the appending drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view of the floor of the present invention from underneath,

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of two construction members, illustrating afirst embodiment of the connection with an adjacent member,

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of two construction members, illustrating a second embodiment of the connection with an adjacent member, and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view in longitudinal direction, cut through a floor assembled from the invented construction members and showing on one side an air inlet channel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, the construction member 1 in the FIGS. 1 and 2 is provided withlongitudinal ribs 2 and with transverse ribs 4. Between the ribs holes 5 are arranged in the member. Further, there are provided supporting ribs 3a and 3b which also extend in longitudinal direction. The thickness of the material of the ribs 3a; 3b is such that a hole can be spared therein for receiving a pipe 8 which conducts the heating medium. The ribs 3a; 3b rest on the ground and thus form between them channels I].

A floor portion assembled from the construction members 1 is shown in FIG. 2. The members have a recess 7 on the left'hand side which receives the edge 6 of the adjacent member. In the supporting ribs 3a; 3b the pipes 8 for conducting the heating medium are illustrated. Of course, instead of a heating medium a cooling medium may be conducted in the pipes if so desired. An air-permeable carpet is placed on the floor formed by the construction members. The supporting ribs 3a and 3b have a sufficient width for forming air channels ll underneath the floor. At their free end the supporting ribs are provided with a portion of an easily gliding material 12 with which they rest on the concrete ground 14. This makes possible minor adjustments in the rib positions on account ofa thermal expansion. On the ground is spread a heat reflecting layer 13, preferably an aluminum foil.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 the construction member 21 is provided with a supporting rib 23a along one longitudinal edge and with two additional longitudinal ribs 22 between which transverse ribs 24 are arranged. In the space between the ribs holes 25 are in the construction member. The heat-conducting pipe is arranged in the supporting ribs 23a. On the left-hand side (in FIG. 3) a groove 27 is formed and on the righthand side a tongue 29 projects from the member. Both, tongue and groove, constitute a means for connecting the member to the adjacent construction members.

The heat conducted through the pipes 8 is quickly transmitted through the longitudinal and through the transverse ribs to the floor and also to the air in the channels. The warmed-up air rises through the holes 5 and 25 respectively and through the carpet 9 into the room. In addition, heat is radiated from the floor surface. The convection heat may be amplified if along the wall 17 a channel 18 is connected to the channels 11 for a better air supply. The air may then be pressed into the channels by means of a fan. In this case it will prove advantageous if the channels 1 l are closed at the opposite end.

From the construction members according to the invention also movable radiators may be assembled, as for example footstools. Into these the air may be introduced from one side by a blower. The warmedup air will then mostly penetrate through the holes 5 and 25 respectively. However, such a radiator will, to a certain degree, also supply heat by radiation.

What is claimed is: a

l. A construction member for assembling a heated floor at a certain distance above. a base, said member comprising:

a. a board-shaped elongated portion defining a thermally conductive upper surface and lower surface l), and

b. a supporting rib (3a) projecting substantially at right angles from said lower surface and extending along one longitudinal edge thereof, said rib supporting said elongated portion on said base, both said elongated portion and said supporting rib being one integral piece and made of a material of good thermal conductivity, and a hole being provided therein, extending in longitudinal direction in thejunction area of said elongated portion and said supporting rib for receiving a heat-conducting medium,

c. connecting means (7;27;29) extending along the longitudinal narrow sides of said elongated portion, said means being adapted to connect each construction member to the adjacent construction members when a floor is assembled therefrom, and

d. a plurality of holes (5) in said board-shaped elongated portion for permitting warm air to rise from underneath said portion through said holes into a room above said portion.

2. A construction member as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising additional ribs (2) extending in longitudinal direction in parallel to said supporting rib, said additional ribs being of a smaller width than said supporting rib.

3. A construction member as claimed in claim 2, and further comprising transverse ribs (4) of a smaller width than said supporting rib.

4. A construction member as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connecting means comprise a tongue (29) projecting from one narrow side of said elongated portion and a groove (27) cut into the opposite narrow side of said elongated portion and being adapted to re ceive the tongue of the adjacent construction member.

5. A construction member as claimed in claim I, wherein said connecting means comprise an L-shaped recess (7) cut into the upper surface of said elongated portion along the upper longitudinal edge above said supporting rib, said recess being adapted to receive the rib-free edge of the adjacent construction member.

6. A construction member as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper surface of said elongated portion is cast-raw.

floor.

10. A heated floor as claimed in claim 9 wherein the carpet is attached to the floor by adhesive means distributed puntually between the tion members.

11. A heated floor as claimed in claim 7, wherein said base has a heat reflecting layer thereon.

holes in the construc- 

1. A construction member for assembling a heated floor at a certain distance above a base, said member comprising: a. a board-shaped elongated portion defining a thermally conductive upper surface and lower surface (1), and b. a supporting rib (3a) projecting substantially at right angles from said lower surface and extending along one longitudinal edge thereof, said rib supporting said elongated portion on said base, both said elongated portion and said supporting rib being one integral piece and made of a material of good thermal conductivity, and a hole being provided therein, extending in longitudinal direction in the junction area of said elongated portion and said supporting rib for receiving a heat-conducting medium, c. connecting means (7;27;29) extending along the longitudinal narrow sides of said elongated portion, said means being adapted to connect each construction member to the adjacent construction members when a floor is assembled therefrom, and d. a plurality of holes (5) in said board-shaped elongated portion for permitting warm air to rise from underneath said portion through said holes into a room above said portion.
 2. A construction member as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising additional ribs (2) extending in longitudinal direction in parallel to said supporting rib, said additional ribs being of a smaller width than said supporting rib.
 3. A construction member as claimed in claim 2, and further comprising transverse ribs (4) of a smaller width than said supporting rib.
 4. A construction member as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connecting means comprise a tongue (29) projecting from one narrow side of said elongated portion and a groove (27) cut into the opposite narrow side of said elongated portion and being adapted to receive the tongue of the adjacent construction member.
 5. A construction member as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connecting means comprise an L-shaped recess (7) cut into the upper surface of said elongated portion along the upper longitudinal edge above said supporting rib, said recess being adapted to receive the rib-free edge of the adjacent construction member.
 6. A construction member as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper surface of said elongated portion is cast-raw.
 7. A heated floor assembled from the construction members claimed in claim 1, wherein the supporting ribs define channels (11) underneath the floor to which air supply channels (18) are connected adjacent the room walls (17).
 8. A heated floor as claimed in claim 7, and further comprising fans in the air supply channels.
 9. A heated floor as claimed in claim 7, and further comprising an air-permeable carpet (9) spread on the floor.
 10. A heated floor as claimed in claim 9, wherein the carpet is attached to the floor by adhesive means distributed puntually between the holes in the construction members.
 11. A heated floor as claimed in claim 7, wherein said base has a heat reflecting layer thereon. 